Foldable trestle for paper-trimming boards and the like



April 20, 1937. D. H. WIESLANDER FOLDABLE TRESTLE FOR PAPER TRIMMING BOARDS AND THE LIKE v Filed Oct. 24, 1955 Inventor, .Dan ielH. Wteslander:

Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE TRESTLE FOR PAPER-TRIM- MING BOARDS AND THE LIKE 9 Claims.

This invention relates, in a general way, to structure applicable for supporting tables and the like, but deals more particularly with improve ments in what is commonly known among paper hangers as a trestle, which in this instance is a device on which a wall-paper trimming board may be mounted for use by the paper hanger in plying his art.

Trimming boards, in some instances, are

equipped with folding legs which form a part of the apparatus. In this particular form they are somewhat cumbersome to handle, and for various other reasons which need not be discussed at this time, these boards are not so convenient and desirable as are those made independent of their supporting structure, such for instance as the invention hereinafter to be described.

In my present conception I have evolved a foldable table-supporting device, self contained and non-attachable to the table or other similar afiair which might be mounted on it.

The device, which I shall herein designate as a trestle, comprises four legs inclined two ways from perpendicular, with side-bars, cross-bars and jointed members tying and bracing the whole structure when set up for service.

I further provide means for storing a straightedge, used by paper hangers in trimming operations on wall-paper, on the side of the trestle,

incorporating facilities whereby accidental displacement of the straight-edge from its position on the trestle is impossible.

The trestle is foldable into a very compact body and does not necessitate the removal or disassembling of a single element, such as a bolt, nut or rivet, in the operation. It is, on the other hand, very easily and quickly erected and put into serviceable shape from the folded form.

The character of the invention may best be understood by reference to the description found in the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing disclosing a preferred embodiment thereof, and in WhiCh,-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the trestle, set up;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the trestle folded;

Fig. 3 illustrates, in fragmentary view, one corner of the trestle, showing a straight-edge mounted on the side of the legs;

' Fig. 4 shows the method of attaching one end of the cross-bar to the adjacent leg;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the joint used in all of the braces;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the straight-edge supporting arm and locking device;

Fig. 7 shows a cross-bar in folded position, and

Fig. 8is an alternate method of constructing the side-bars whereby the trestle is made extensible and contractible.

Similar reference characters are employed to identify like parts in all views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, it will be observed that both end portions of the trestle are of substantially similar construction, the only difference being that one is right hand and the other left hand.

At each corner is a leg I, inclined two ways from perpendicular, providing thereby a bracing effect both longitudinally and transversely of the trestle.

The two transversely aligning legs at each end, respectively, of the trestle structure are interconnected by diagonally positioned brace-bars 2, the ends of these brace-bars being pivotally secured to the legs by rivets Ia.

In order that the device may fold, the brace members have a joint intermediate their ends, the construction features of the joint being disclosed in Fig. 5, in which will be seen a rivet 3 which pivotally secures the two parts of the brace together. At a distance from rivet 3 a dome shaped projection 4 is made on the inner side of one part which, when the two parts align, engages a depression in the semi-spherical shaped protuberance 5 on the other part, the projection snapping into the depression when the parts are swung into line, there being spring enough to the parts to permit of this.

There is also a lug 6 on the end of one part which is adapted to engage a slot 1 in the other part when the two portions are brought into line. This prevents jack-knifing the two bars in the wrong direction when the trestle is about to be folded. A rivet 2w pivotally connects the two brace members so that they fold evenly on both sides of the trestle structure.

On the upper portions of the two legs, at each end of the trestle, is a cross-bar 8. Near one end of this cross-bar is a slot 9 through which a bolt l0 extends to the leg I, to which it is secured.

The opposite, bevelled end of the cross-bar is detachably mounted in a cleat ll permanently secured to the leg I, the upper portion of the cleat engaging the cross-bar with a strong frictional embrace. A notch 8a in the cross-bar straddles the portion Ila of the cleat and locks the cross-bar to the leg transversely of the trestle.

To reduce slipping of the trimming board on the cross-bars to a minimum I cover the top surface of the latter with a strip of friction-acquiring material, preferably corrugated rubber, i2, the serrations in the rubber aiding materially in effecting this object.

As has previously been stated, the end units of the trestle are substantially similar. Interconnecting these units are two side-bars disposed longitudinally of the trestle, one on each side thereof. These side-bars, it, are pivotally secured to the legs 5 by rivets lb, and their ends I3a are preferably tapering.

To stabilize the trestle endwise I employ jointed brace-rods i5 similar in design to those used on the legs at each end of the apparatus, pivotally securing them to the side-bars and legs by rivets 13a and lo, respectively.

Paper hangers use a long, thin straight-edge SE in paper trimmin operations. actual service it is of advantage to have available some convenient place of storage, preferably on the apparatus supporting the trimming table.

In my improved trestle I have made provision for storing the straight-edge on the trestle structure itself. The inner ends of two arms l5, one at each end of the trestle, are pivotally connected, respectively, to two of the diagonally disposed leg brace-bars 2 by means of rivets ifia.

The arms are swung from their pivotal points outwardly over the side-bar l3, contacting the latter at its tapering end portions l3a. This is calculated to bring the top edges of the arms flush or in horizontal alignment with the top edge of the wider portion of the side-bar, which comprises nearly the full length thereof.

Thus when the straight-edge is disposed on the arms IE it is not only supported by the arms but by substantially the full length of the side-bar l3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This eliminates sagging of the straight-edge which would tend to deform it and throw it out of true.

Straight-edges are usually made at least as long as the trimming table and this length would make it overhang the arms 5 at each end of the trestle.

A careless workman in passing around the end of the trimming board or table TB might collide with the overhanging portions of the straightedge, dislodge it from its position on the arms l5, and do damage to it when it fell to the floor. This might occur were the top surfaces of the arms !5 flat and smooth.

Anticipating trouble of the foregoing nature I have equipped the arms l5 with looking pawls l6 pivotally securing them to the arms by rivets or pins I Bet.

When the pawls are raised into the positions in which they are shown in Figs. 1 and 3, their edges lfib engage the outer edge of the straightedge SE when the latter is stored on the arms. The toes I60 of the pawls overhang the member SE and the outer faces Hid abut on the stop lug i! to limit the rotative movement of the pawls in one direction.

Should it be desired to dispense with the use of the pawls, they may easily be rotated to the position in which one is shown in Fig. 6.

In some instances a paper hanger might require a trestle either longer or shorter than one supplied of standard length. In Fig. 8 I show, in fragmentary View, an alternative method of constructing the side-bars so as to make the trestle extensible and contractible.

By making the side-bars of such length as to overlap, and mounting on the overlapping portions one or more flattened rings l8, which latter embrace both overlapping portions I3A, a

When not in.

construction is evolve-d which permits of various lengths of boards being used. Set screws 19 act to bind the two portions of the side-bars firmly together.

When it is required to collapse the trestle structure and bring it into the form shown in Fig. 2, the ends of the cross-bars which are bevelled are lifted out or" the cleats I l and the crossbars swung downwardly by the side of the legs I, as shown in Fig. '7. The arms 15 are then rotated from the full line to the dotted line position, Fig. 3, where they are disposed during the time the trestle is folded. It will be observed that the slot 9 permits the cross-bars to drop so that their ends are flush with the tops of the legs. This saves in length of the folded structure.

This accomplished, all braces are jack-knifed and the parts brought into a very condensed and compact form, one view of which is depicted in Fig. 2.

The various elements of my improved trestle are of themselves very light and portable. The whole assembly is easily carried under a workmans arm. But although light in weight the parts are so fabricated that the Whole structure is remarkably stiff and stable.

The corrugated rubber mounting on the top surfaces of the cross-bars, to frictionally hold the trimming board in place, the securing means and full length bearing for the straight-edge, and the disposition of the inclined legs which somewhat simulate the corners of a pyramid, to provide stability of the trestle, are characteristics of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A trestle for paper-trimming boards and the like comprising four legs inclined inwardly from perpendicular, both longitudinally and transversely of said trestle, diagonally disposed, two brace-bars, each having a jack-knife joint intermediate its ends, pivotally interconnecting the legs in each pair of tranversely aligning legs, two side-bars, one on each side of the trestle, said side-bars pivotally interconnecting, respectively, the two pair of longitudinally aligning legs, two jackknife jointed members pivotally interconnecting each of the said side-bars and two adjacent legs on each side of the trestle, said members serving to stabilize the trestle structure longitudinally thereof, and a cross-bar, having a longitudinal slot at one end, disposed across the trestle and interconnecting each pair of transversely aligning legs.

2. A trestle for paper-trimming boards and the like, having characteristics according to claim 1, and in addition, a bolt passing through the slot in said cross-bar and secured in the leg adjacent thereto, and a cleat on the transversely opposite leg adapted to engage and yieldingly secure the opposite end of said cross-bar.

3. A device of the class described comprising four legs, jointed members interconnecting the two legs at each end of said device, a side-bar disposed on each longitudinal side of said device, said side-bar making pivotal connection with the legs adjacent thereto, a cross-bar, having a slot therein, swingingly secured to one of said legs and disposed transversely of said device and at the top portion thereof, and a corrugated rubber strip secured on the upper surface of said crossbar, a duplicate of said corrugated rubber equipped cross-bar being disposed on the opposite end of said device.

4. A device of the class described, having characteristics according to claim 3, and in addition,

two arms pivotally connected, respectively, to two of said jointed members, adapted to swing outwardly so as to extend beyond said legs for the purpose of providing a support for a straightedge, the top surfaces of said arms horizontally aligning with the top of said cross-bar whereby support is given to the straight-edge throughout the major portion of the length of said side-bar.

5. A foldable trestle for paper-trimming boards comprising four legs inclined two ways from perpendicular, jointed cross members pivotally connected to and bracing said legs, transversely of said trestle, a side-bar on each side of the trestle pivotally connected to said legs, means to brace said legs longitudinally of the trestle, a cross-bar disposed at the top and at each end of said trestle, transversely thereof, two straight-edge-supporting arms pivotally connected, respectively, to two of said cross members and adapted to swing outwardly beyond said legs on the side of said trestle, and a locking pawl on each of said arms adapted to secure a straight-edge when disposed on said arms.

6. A foldable trestle for paper-trimming boards, comprising four legs, jointed cross members mutually tying and bracing said legs transversely of said trestle, a side-bar pivotally connected to said legs on each side of said trestle, a cross-bar, having a longitudinal slot at one end and a notch on its under side at the other end, disposed transversely of said trestle and at each end thereof, a bolt passing through said slot and fixed in the adjacent leg of the trestle, a cleat on the transversely opposite leg adapted to receive and frictionally bind said cross-bar against upward displacement and further to engage said notch and hold the tops of said legs positively spaced, and friction-acquiring means on the top surfaces of said cross-bars adapted to reduce slipping of the trimming-board when disposed thereon.

'7. A foldable trestle for paper-trimming boards comprising in combination with an extensible side-bar disposed on each side of the trestle and extending the full length thereof, four legs, one at each corner of the trestle, means to pivotally connect the ends of each of said side-bars to the said legs lying, respectively, adjacent thereto, two brace members, each having a jack-knife joint intermediate their ends, members interconnecting, respectively, the two legs at both ends of said trestle, two brace members, having jackknife joints intermediate their ends, interconnecting each of said side-bars and the two adjacent longitudinally aligning legs, for the purpose of stabilizing said trestle longitudinally thereof,

two arms, one at each end of the trestle, extending outwardly on one side thereof, beyond said legs, adapted to provide support for a straightedge, the top surfaces of the two said arms lying in a horizontal plane coincident with that in which lies the top edge of the adjacent side-bar, and means on said arms to hold the straight-edge against horizontal and vertical displacement from said arms.

8. A trestle for paper-trimming boards comprising four legs, a side-bar pivotally interconnecting, respectively, the legs in each pair of said legs which longitudinally align, a cross-bar on each end of said trestle, said cross-bar having a slot adjacent one end and a square notch portion on its under side, adjacent its opposite end, a bolt fixed in the upper end portion of one of said legs, said bolt passing through the slot in said cross-bar whereby when in operative position the extreme end of the cross-bar extends laterally beyond the leg, but when folded the tops of crossbar and leg are flush, a cleat on the leg disposed transversely opposite that on which is said bolt,

said cleat adapted to engage the notch in said cross-bar for positively spacing and holding against inward movement of the upper ends of the transversely opposite legs toward each other, and jointed members transversely interconnecting the legs at each end of the trestle structure and interconnecting the legs and side-bars longitudinally of the structure, said members permitting the whole structure to be folded into a compact body, the side-bars being disposed, respectively, on the outer sides thereof.

9. A trestle for paper-trimming boards having characteristics according to claim 8, and in addition, a stop element on said jointed members whereby each of said members may be folded in one direction only, and friction-acquiring means on the top surfaces, respectively, of said crossbars.

DANIEL H. WIESLANDER. 

